Pressure actuated device



Sept. 22, 1936. J. c. ERTEL, JR.

' PRESSURE ACTUATED DEVICE Filed Sept. 1Q, 19?]. 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Jonw Cf [Kr-4, JR.

ATTORNEYS.

' Sept. 22, 1936. J. c. ERTEL. JR

I PRESSURE ACTUATED DEVICE Filed Sept. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 25 Plli. 3

INVENTOR. J'a/fiv 6. fera J6 KM xiiwz 'M A TTORNEYT.

Patented Sept. 22, 1936' V PATE T riisssUaE AGTUATED DEVICE John 0. End, .112, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor,

. by mesne assignments, to Bragg-Kliesrath Cor poration, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New.

York Application September :16, 1931, Serial No. 563,127

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a pressure actuated device and aparticular applicationfthereof in respectto a vacuum clutchcontrol mechanism, reference being had to my co-pending application, Serial Nof542',778, filed'June 8, 1931.

The principal objectiof the invention is to provide a device for permitting operation of a mechanism by'a predetermined high pressure or partial vacuum, and the continued actuation thereof-at varying pressures or'partial vacuums above a predetermined low pressure or vacuum.

I As applied to mechanismactuated by a partial vacuum as specifically disclosed herein, there is provided a spring actuated lever connected with a-controlvalve'in such fashionasto permit said valve to operate-for actuating the mecha& nism uponapplication' of a high pressure, such as twenty inches of vacuum, the operation of said control valve causing the spring pressedleverage to be instantly decreased whereby said control valvewill beheld-in operating position by a substantially lower vacuum pressure, such as ten inches of vacuum. But, uponthe pres sure' being reduced below a predetermined "low pressure such asten inchesof vacuum, the spring actuated --lever will overcome-the same and return the control valve to inoperative position; and at the same time res'eat itself to provide the greater leverage. 1

Another feature of the invention residesin the adjustment for raising or lowering the respective maximum and" minimum "pressures under which the valve opens and closes, as will be hereinafter more specifically pointed out. J As: shown herein, one particular application of the invention'is toa mechanism for controlling the clutch of a vehicle, operated from the vacuum of an internal combustion engine, whereby the clutch will be automatically released upon an increase in the partial vacuum of the engine being disengaged from the engine when the throttie is retarded. I V I c c In such a mechanism itis essential that upon being disengaged, the clutch will be held in disengaged position-for permitting freewheeling at; varying vacuum pressures, depending upon the characteristics of the motor and throttle. It is furthermore important that the mechanism retain the clutch in released position when the motor is idling at its lowest speed. Thus, it has been found that in practice it is desirable that the mechanism be placed in operation for releasing the clutch upon the initial closing of the throttle at a high vacuum pressure of approximately twenty inches. Thereafter, as the vacuum pressure decreases with the decrease in speed of the engine, it is still desirable that the clutch be maintained in released position down to the point where the motor idles, which is the minimum operating vacuum pressure of approximatelyten inches. In other words, it is essential that a high vacuum pressure be required to initially release the clutch while lower pressures, within limits, will maintain it in released position.

Other features of the invention reside in the particular arrangement and construction of the vacuum operated mechanism andthe mounting thereof for adjustment to take up slack on .the connecting cable and compensate for variation in the play of the clutch, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and described.

The full nature of the invention will bemore fully understood from the accompanying drawlugs and the following description and claims. 7 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device showing it mounted upon a vehicle. Fig. 2 is a longi- Inthe drawings thereis illustrated a vacuum actuated device mounted upon the chassis of a motor which may be connected to the clutch pedal by'a cable I I passing about a pulley l2 that has just been mounted onthe bracket M, which,

in turn, .is adjustably mounted on the chassis of the vehicle. The housing I5 of the mechanism is provided with a longitudinal slot 16 through which the anchoring bolts l1 extend, said bolts clamping the blocks [8 to an L-shaped bracket l9 which is forked at both ends. By means of this arrangement, thelower horizontal forks of thebracket may be adjustably secured by suitable boltsto the chassis of the vehicle for-permitting lateral adjustment with respect thereto, while the vertical forksi'permit of vertical adjust- The longitudinal slot is in the housing permits of longitudinal adjustment thereof with respect to the brackets so as to enable any slack in the cable H which may develop in operation, to be .5 merit of the housing with respect to the chassis.

' there is reciprocably mounted a controlvalve in the form of a piston 28. Said piston 28 is proreadily taken up, while at the same time permitting r-eady adjustment for accommodating the mechanism to variations in the play of the clutch to which it is attached.

The housing includes a head 2|) having a port 2| therein adapted to be connected with the vacuum line 22 leading to the intake of the engine. Said port 2 is in communication with the port 23 through the valve 24 which may be operated through the lever 25 by a control wire 26 leading to the instrument board of the vehicle. the vacuum can be manually shut off from communication with the apparatus if so desired. The cut-ofi valve 24, however, must necessarily be operated when the piston 28 is in a position to vent the housing Hi to the atmosphere; that is, when the accelerator is depressed. The port 23 leads to the interior of a cylinder 21 in which vided with an elongated peripheral groove 29 and a relatively narrow peripheral groove 30. Communicating with' the groove 36, there are a plurality of port holes 3| which communicate with an interior bore 32 formed longitudinally of said piston. The rear end of said piston is adjustably connected by a flexiblemember or spring 33 with a U-shaped lever 34 through the medium of an adjusting screw 3311i.v Said lever is pivotally secured upon a supporting bracket 35 at 36, and is limited in its rearward movement by the stop: pin 31. Secured substantially atthecenter of the lever, thereis a tension spring 38 which has its other end connected with a lug 39 extending inwardly of the control housing 40 secured upon the housing |5. An opening 40 is provided in the housing '40 to facilitate the operation of the valve piston'28,

'The interior of the housing i5 is cylindrical and has slidably, mountedtherein the piston 4| to which the cable II is connected, said cable freely extending through the opening 42 in the rear of said housing. The forward end of the cylinder is closed by thecylinder head .43 which is'formed integral with the head 20, and is formed to provide a chamber 44 in communication with the cylinder 21 through the port 44a, passage 45 and port 46, when .said port 46 is 'in registry nism, and provided that the valve 24 is opened,

the control valve is in its inoperative position with the piston 28 at its extreme position in the cylinder 21, whereby the groove 30 is out of registry with the port 46. In this position, the lever 34is swung rearwardly so as to abut against the stop' pin 31. Thus, the resistance to movement of the spring 33 is at its maximum by reason of the increased leverage due to the position of said lever; The piston 4| is in its inoperative position approximately at the cent-er'of the main cylinder,

closing the ports 49 and 58, whereupon the clutch of the vehicle is engaged.

Upon closing thethrottle a maximum vacuum pressure is exerted, to the extent of approximate- 13' twenty inches of vacuumfupon the control Thus,

piston 28, tending to draw it forwardly in the cylinder 21. This action will not take place unless the vacuum pressure is sufiicient to overcome the resistance of the combination spring 38 and lever 34. Upon such resistance being overcome and the piston pulled forwardly, it throws the lever 34 to the position shown in Fig. 3 such that the leverage thereof is decreased, thereby decreasing the resistance of the combined spring and lever.

This forward position of the valve is at its operative position as shown in Fig. 2. The groove 30, which is in communication with the vacuum' passages, registers with the port 46, passage 45 and through the port 44a. communicates with the chamber 44. Thus, a vacuum is created ahead of the piston 4| which tends to draw it forwardly in the main cylinder and. thereby release the clutch.

As the vacuum pressureofthe engine drops owing to decreased speed thereof, the spring tene sion on'the lever will not eiTect the control piston 28 because of the new position taken by the lever sothat said spring and lever will not retractsaid piston until the vacuum of the engine has dropped below that which is usually produced by the mere idling thereof, or about ten inches of vacuum. In view thereof, the clutch will continue to be held in released position while the engine idles.

Upon opening the throttle, the vacuum will drop below the minimum pressure or teninches of vacuum so thatthe spring and lever will overcome the force thereof. and retract the. cylinder 28.

Thereupon, the peripheral groove 30 will move 1:

out of registry with the port 46, and the elongated peripheral groove 29 will span the ports 46 and '48, thusconnecting the atmospheric pressure with the chamber through the ports 49, 58, passage 41, port 48, through the elongated groove 29 and port 46. Thereupon, the piston 4| will be released so that the clutch spring will draw the piston rearwardly with a rapid action until it passes the group of aligned ports 49, thereby cutting off free atmospheric passage to the front of the piston.

Thus, the rearward movement of the piston and the engagement of the clutch will be retarded after the first rapid movement, but will be permitted to further move into clutching engagement by the passage of air through the single port 50. In the meantime, upon retraction of the piston to its normal position, the lever 34 will have swung about its pivot point 36 until it engages the stop pin 31. In this position, the r control device and mechanism are in their normal or inoperative positions ready tobe again operated as above described.

Through adjustment of the screw 33a, the flexible member or spring 33 will vary the position of the lever 34 about its pivotal mounting 36. Thus, the leverage as well as the tension of the spring 38 will-be varied. This adjustment permits the maximum and minimum vacuum pressures to be raised 'or lowered. The universal flexibility of said member when in the form of a. spring also prevents side pull or wedging of the piston 28 within its cylinder.

cifically described asj pertaining to a clutch releasing mechanism, it is understood that the same may be readily applied to other-mechanisms wherein it is desired that an extreme pressure be employed for the initial operation of a mechanism, which mechanism will continue to be operif antenna .f'a'ted by agreatei oriesserpressure within cercontrol-lingthepressure to said mechanism, and

amember connected with saidvalve'adaptedto resist the initial. movement. thereof for requiring an initialmaximum pressure, said member:bemg

': adapted todecrease the resistance required to maintain said valve. in position after saidinitial wmovementthereof.

. 2.. In a pressureactuated device, the combination with arsource ofpressure, and a mechanism to 'be operatedthereby, of a control valve for controlling the pressure to said mechanism, and a spring actuated member connected with said valve adapted to offer a maximum resistance to the initial movement thereof when said valve is in inoperative position and offer a lesser resistance to said valve after the initial movement thereof.

3. In a pressure actuated device, the combination with a source of pressure, and. a mechanism to be operated thereby, of a control valve for controlling the pressure to said mechanism, a lever connected with said valve, and means for exerting a pressure on said lever whereby said lever will exert a maximum resistance to the movement of said valve when in one position and a lesser resistance when said valve and lever are moved to another position. i

4. In a pressure actuated device, the combination with a source of pressure, and a mechanism to be operated thereby, of a control valve for controlling the pressure to said mechanism, a lever connected with said valve, means for exerting a pressure on said lever for normally maintaining said valve in inoperative position under maximum resistance to the movement action thereof, said lever being so positioned that the leverage thereof will be decreased for offering a lesser resistance to said valve after the initial movement thereof.

5. In a pressure actuated device, the combination with a source of pressure, and a mechanism to be operated thereby, of a control valve for controlling the pressure to said mechanism, a lever connected with said valve, a spring for exerting a pressure on said lever adapted to yieldingly maintain said valve in inoperative position, said lever and spring being so related as to vary the leverage and reduce the resistance to the position of said valve after the initial movement thereof.

6. In a pressure actuated device, the combination with a source of pressure, and a mechanism to be operated thereby, of a reciprocating control valve for controlling the pressure to said mechanism, a lever having one end thereof connected with said valve, a pivotal mounting for the other end of said lever, and a spring connected with said lever for causing said lever to offer a maximum resistance to the initial movement of said valve, said lever being so arranged that upon said valve overcoming the resistance thereto, the leverage of said lever will be decreased to permit said valve to be maintained in position. 7. In a pressure actuated device, the combina tion with a source of pressure, and a mechanism to be operated thereby, of a reciprocating control valve for controlling the pressure to said mechanism, a U-shaped lever having one end *therof'pivotally 'mounted and the other ehd thereof" connected with said --valve,--and extension --spring connected-*to-isaid lever interm'ediate its "ends andhav-i'ngthe other end thereof fixedly an- 1*-chored whe reby the inaxim-um resistance will be 5 offered: by -said -lever} and spring-to the initial movement of said valvepwhereupon said lever will bemoved-to a position wherein a minimum of resistance will-beofiered-thereto.

8.;In' combination with 'aninternal combustion lll engineadapted'to'create a vacuum: of sip-member to beactuated, a vacuum operable mechanism for operating said -member, a valve controlled by the vacuum; created in the engine formakingand m n ini t vacuum to said mechanism'; and

" means for offering amaxi'mumres'istance f tosaid valve in' making the vacuum and asubstantia-lly lesser resistance for maintaining said vacuum.

9. The combination with an internal combustion engine adapted to create a vacuum, of a clutch connecting the engine with a driven mechanism, a vacuum operable device for actuating said clutch, a valve controlled by the vacuum created in the engine for making and breaking the vacuum to said device, means for exerting a predetermined resistance to said valve in the initial operation thereof and thereafter maintain a substantially lesser resistance thereto for adapting the operation thereof to engines having varying vacuum creating capacities and speeds.

10. In a pressure actuated device, the combination with a source of pressure, and a mechanism to be operated thereby, of a control valve for controlling the pressure to said mechanism, a member connected with said valve adapted to resist the initial movement thereof for requiring an initial maximum pressure, said member being adapted to decrease the resistance required to maintain said valve in position after said initial movement thereof, and means for varying the resistance of said member to raise or lower the amount of pressure required to operate the same.

11. In combination with an internal combustion engine adapted to create a vacuum, of a memberto be actuated, a vacuum operable mechanism for operating said member, a valve controlled by the vacuumcreated in the engine for making and maintaining the vacuum to said mechanism, means for offering a maximum resistance to said valve in making the vacuum and a substantially lesser resistance for maintaining said vacuum, and adjustable means for varying said maximum and lesser resistance.

12. In a pressure actuated device, the combination with a source of pressure, and a mechanism to be operated thereby, of a control valve for controlling the pressure to said mechanism, a member adapted to resist the initial movement thereof for requiring an initial maximum pressure, said member being adapted to decrease the resistance required to maintain said valve in position after said initial movement thereof, a flexible connection between said member and valve, and means for adjusting the length of said connection to vary the position and resistance of said member.

13. The combination with an internal combustion engine adapted to create a vacuum, of a member to be actuated, a vacuum operable mechanism for actuating said member, a piston valve operable in a cylinder adapted to make a vacuum to said mechanism when in one position and break the vacuum thereto when in another position, a pivotally mounted lever connected to said piston, and a spring for normally resisting the making position requiring a predetermined vac- V uum pressure for the operation thereof, said lever and spring being'moved to a position upon the movement of said piston to a vacuum making position whereby a substantially decreased pressure will be exerted thereby.

14. In an automotive vehicle having achassis,

' the combination with an internal combustion engine adapted to create a vacuum, of a clutch connecting the engine with a driven mechanism, a vacuum operable mechanism for actuating said clutch, said mechanism being provided with a longitudinally extending slot in its side, means connecting said mechanism with said clutch, and means for mounting said mechanism with respect to said clutch for permitting adjustment theremovement of said lever and piston to vacuum p,

, comprising a casing member, said member comprising a motor body member and a control valve body member mounted in juxtaposition to and ex tending parallel with said motor body member, said casing further provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending fluid transmission passages and with cross passages interconnecting said latter passages with the interior of the aforementioned valve and motor members.

' JOHN C. ERTEL, JR. 

